Radio România Internațional

Tag: Supreme Council of National Defense

February 21, 2024

Defense – The impact of the war in Ukraine on Romania, the endowment programs of the Romanian army and the recent cyber-attacks will be among the topics discussed during today’s meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense – CSAT. The consequences for Romania will be analyzed, after the deterioration of the security situation in the Black Sea region, in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The progress recorded in the field of defense planning is another topic on the agenda, attention being directed, in particular, to the development of the endowment programs, the measures to increase the staffing level, as well as the retention of military personnel. The activity report of the CSAT for the year 2023 will also be presented, as well as that of the Cyber Security Operative Council. Recently, there have been cyber-attacks on several hospitals in the country, and the Government is working, together with a European center, on a cyber security guide for IT administrators in the public system.

Elections – The leaders of the governing coalition in Romania made up of the PSD (Social Democratic Party) and PNL (National Liberal Party), are meeting again today to decide whether this year’s elections will be merged or not. The liberals demand that the local elections be held in the summer, simultaneously with the European parliamentary ones, and the social democrats want the merging, in the autumn, of the parliamentary elections with the first round of the presidential election. Moreover, an idea emerged in the public debates that the parties in power could participate on common lists in the elections for the European Parliament, even though they belong to different European political families: PSD is a member of the European Socialists group and the PNL of the European People’s Party. From the opposition, USR (Save Romania Union) and AUR (The Alliance for the Union of Romanians) argue that the discussions on the topic of merging the elections do nothing but distract Romanians’ attention from the country’s real problems.

Drinks – In Romania, the sale of energy drinks to minors will be sanctioned, according to a draft law adopted on Tuesday by the Chamber of Deputies, as the decision-making body. The ban will be valid both in shops and at vending machines inside hospitals or schools, and fines for violating the law can reach 30,000 lei (about 6,000 Euros).

Tennis – The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea (22 WTA) is playing, today, in the round of 16 of the WTA 1,000 tournament in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), against the Croatian Donna Vekic (31 WTA), who managed to produce a big surprise on Tuesday, defeating the Belarusian Arina Sabalenka, world number two. Sorana leads 3-2 in direct matches with Vekic and has qualified after defeating Russian Veronika Kudermetova (19 WTA) 6-1, 6-4. Cîrstea dominated the game, especially in the first set, obtaining her third victory in four matches with Kudermetova. The Dubai tournament has total prizes worth over 3.2 million dollars.

Bracelets – Three prehistoric gold bracelets, from Romanian archaeological sites, were brought to the country by Romanian prosecutors and police. They were taken from a museum in Antwerp (Belgium). The three movable cultural assets of great value, protected by law, were stolen by unknown perpetrators and subsequently alienated. The Belgian judicial authorities signaled, in October 2020, the presence of the three bracelets in the catalog of an auction in Monte Carlo, and the following month the Romanian police officers from the Service for the Protection of the National Cultural Heritage referred the matter to themselves. According to experts, the bracelets are dated around the year 1000 BC and they will end up in the custody of the National History Museum of Romania.

Rabla – In Romania, the draft law for the modification of the program to stimulate the renewal of the national car fleet is put up for public debate on the website of the Environment Ministry. The “Rabla (Scrap) Classic” program does not come with changes. Thus, 7,000 lei (approx. 1,400 Euros) will be offered for the scrapping of a new car this year, and10,000 lei (approx. 2,000 Euros) for the scrapping of two cars. Eco-tickets can be added to these amounts. Regarding “Rabla Plus”, the amount of the eco-ticket, regardless of the number of used vehicles handed over for scrapping, will be 25,500 lei (approx. 5,100 Euros), for a new all-electric vehicle and 13,000 lei (approx. 2,600 Euros ) for the purchase of a hybrid electric vehicle. Also, 13,000 lei will be the discount in the case of buying an electric motorcycle. The document also provides that eco-tickets will not be granted for electric cars more expensive than 70,000 Euros or 60,000 Euros, in the case of those with a thermal engine. (LS)

21 February 2024
April 7, 2023

Defense. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, convened the meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense, which will take place on Tuesday, April 11, in Bucharest. The agenda of the Council meeting includes topics related to developments regarding the security situation in the Black Sea Region, in the context of Russias aggression on Ukraine, and external interventions on the democratic process in the Republic of Moldova (ex-Soviet, predominantly Romanian-speaking). Also, the development of the Romanian military aviation will be analyzed. During the Council meeting, other topical issues in the field of national security will be addressed.

NATO. The peoples and politicians of the allied countries “understood the need to invest more in defense” in order to ensure interoperability, said on Friday, the NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, on a visit to the Multinational Brigade South-East in Craiova (south). Also, Geoana spoke about the support given to Ukraine. “We are helping Ukraine, because the Ukrainians, with our help, are not only defending their country, their sovereignty, but they are also fighting for us. We will continue to help Ukraine to the end”. Under the operational control of the Multinational Division South-East, the Command of the Multinational Brigade South-East has the mission to ensure the command and control of a NATO Collective Defense operation, in order to contribute in this way to the strengthening of the South-East flank of the Alliance, to the security of the territory and the population of the member states.

Budget. The Romanian government is looking for solutions to cover a hole in the budget of 20 billion lei, so that the deficit does not exceed the target of 4.4% of the GDP. The leaders of the ruling coalition claim that there are unjustified expenses in many ministries and state institutions, and the Ministry of Finance must reduce the waste of public funds. Liberal Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă has stressed that salaries or other types of income will not be cut, but he asked the Minister of Finance, Adrian Câciu, to propose concrete measures to reduce expenses in the next nine months. The Social Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu also spoke about a reform in spending public money, in parallel with measures to reduce tax evasion. Adrian Câciu said that the adjustment of budget expenses will not affect the social and economic packages developed by the coalition, nor the investments. National Bank specialists consider, on the other hand, that against the background of the high values of the current account deficit and the budget deficit, the money from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan represents an extraordinary opportunity for the economy.

Protest. Romanian farmers are today protesting in Bucharest and in 18 counties across the country, dissatisfied with the compensation proposed by the European Commission for the damage caused by the tax-free import of cheap grains from Ukraine. Farmers demand that the European Union abandon the special regime applied to imports from Ukraine, which – in their opinion – seriously disrupts the Romanian market. Bulgarian farmers are also protesting, again, today, including by blocking traffic in the roundabout towards the Ruse-Giurgiu bridge, which connects Bulgaria to Romania. They say that Romanian farmers will join their protest, on the other side of the bridge. Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Romanian citizens transiting or intending to travel to Bulgaria that farmers from that country will organize protests in the customs offices of Ruse – Giurgiu and Kardam – Negru Vodă, including by blocking road access to the customs offices with agricultural equipment, as well as the traffic on adjacent roads.

Health-care. The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, says that the medical system in Romania needs sufficient, well-trained staff who can respond professionally and empathetically to the needs of patients. At the same time, in his message on the occasion of the World Health Day, on April 7, the minister states that investments are needed in health – in hospitals, in specialist clinics or in family doctors offices. This year, the motto of the World Health Day is “Health for all!”. In another move, the Minister of Health has stated that the number of respiratory viruses and SARS-COV-2 infections has started to decrease, and Romania has sufficient stocks of medicines for the necessary treatments. According to Alexandru Rafila, there were 6,900 cases of COVID last week, with a rate of infection 10% lower than the previous week. However, the number of deaths is still quite high, 59.

Tennis. The Romanian tennis player Irina Begu was defeated by the first -seed American Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in the fourth round of the WTA 500 tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, with more than 780 thousand dollars in prize money. She lost the match after 2 hours and a half, although she had won four games in the decisive set. (MI)

7 April 2023
The new defense draft strategy

On Wednesday, Romanias Supreme Council of National Defense adopted the defense draft strategy for 2020-2024, which will have to be endorsed by parliament. President Klaus Iohannis stated that the strategy was drawn up against the background of the pandemic, which triggered a deep economic crisis and altered power relations.

According to the head of state, “Romania had to deal with the pandemic within a very tight time-frame, and because of the prospects of a cyclical evolution of the virus, the Romanian state must continue and take the necessary measures, in order to enhance its capacity to manage such a crisis at different levels”.

Klaus Iohannis has also stated that, for the next four years, the countrys National Defense Strategy will operate with the same concept of extended national security, introduced and defined in the previous document. Besides armed defense, the strategy also addresses other dimensions, such as foreign policy, public order, education, health-care, the economy, the environment, energy and cyber security. The head of state has also said that the document is based on the concept of a country which, through strong democratic institutions, protects and defends all its citizens.

Klaus Iohannis: “The new strategy provides answers to essential questions regarding our priority national objectives for ensuring the security of Romania and its citizens and shows what we have to do to achieve them. Public policies in the field of national security will be designed and implemented, with the citizen as the final beneficiary, because every Romanian must feel that they live in a safe environment and have confidence that the institutions defend and protect them.”

The Strategic Partnership with the United States of America, as well as membership of NATO and the European Union are reaffirmed in the document as pillars of the countrys foreign and security policy. The president has said that the National Security Strategy for the next four years entails a new approach, determined by the deteriorating relations between the North Atlantic Alliance and the Russian Federation, the proliferation of terrorism, hybrid and cyber threats.

During the same meeting, the Supreme Council of National Defense analyzed and approved the Romanian Armed Forces that can be made available for participation in missions and operations abroad next year, as well as the program on the transformation, development and endowment of the Romanian army for the coming years and the future. (M.Ignatescu)

28 May 2020
December 25, 2018 UPDATE

CHRISTMAS – On Tuesday, Christians around the world celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. In a message conveyed on the occasion, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, says that this celebration is one of gift-offering, to children, elders, orphans, sick and lonely, and to all the loved ones. “This celebration is our response to the gift of Gods love, shown in Jesus Christ”, Patriarch Daniels message also reads. At the Vatican, Pope Francis firmly criticized what he termed as mankinds consumerist voracity and called on people to reflect on the spiritual meaning of their lives and to share with the poor . “The little body of the Child of Bethlehem is a new model of life: not to devour or to grasp, but to share and to give”, the Pope said, recalling that the name Bethlehem means the house of bread. The Sovereign Pontiff gave the traditional blessing of Urbi et orbi (to the city and the world), before the Christians gathered in St. Peters Square.

MESSAGES – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis has conveyed a Christmas message to all Romanians, saying that the birth of Jesus Christ is a celebration of the miracle of life and of kindness, compassion and generosity. “We need to reconnect to those values that bring us closer to each other and unite us. In the spirit of these holy celebrations, we should take care of each other and of our country”, the presidents message also reads. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has wished all Romanians good health and well being. The custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margareta, has too sent a Christmas message, saying she promised to carry on the work started by her father, King Michael, towards ensuring Romanias prosperity and stability an strengthening its international position.

JUSTICE – The former Romanian minister Elena Udrea and the former head of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Alina Bica, who were in custody in Costa Rica since October 3rd, were released after the Bucharest Tribunal revoked the extradition requests issued on their names. The Public Ministry of Costa Rica decided to release them after receiving from the Romanian Justice Ministry the documentation stating that the two requests had been withdrawn. In Romania, Udrea and Bica have received definitive sentences for corruption. Just like them, other high-ranking officials in Romania have benefited from the suspension of the prison sentences they have received for corruption, after the Constitutional Court of Romania ruled that the setting up of the 5-judge panels at the High Court of Cassation and Justice was illegal.

DEFENSE – A new meeting of Romanias Supreme Council of National Defense will be held on December 28th, focusing on the request made by the Defense Minister Gabriel Les with regard to posts in the armys leadership. On Wednesday, Gabriel Les announced he would not extend the term of the current Chef of Staff Nicolae Ciuca, which expires on December 31st. The previous meeting of the Council was held on December 19th, when the army equipment programme for 2019-2028 was approved, as well as the capabilities to be deployed by Romania next year for missions and operations abroad. 1902 Romanian soldiers will be part of international theaters of operations, 127 more than in 2018. Also, another 759 army and police officers will take part in EU, OSCE, NATO and UN missions. Romania will keep participating in the NATO Resolute Support operation in Afghanistan and will maintain its contribution to the allied operations carried out in the Western Balkans. As a first, a detachment of transport and evacuation helicopters will participate in the UN mission in Mali.

EMPLOYMENT – Romanias National Employment Agency has committed to integrating into the labour market some 110,000 unemployed registered in their data base, by means of a project co-funded by the Social European Fund, through the Operational Programme Human Capital 2014-2020, covering a period of four years. According to the Agency, the allocated budget stands at around 265 million Euros, of which 226 million non-reimbursable. The project will be implemented with support from the local employment agencies.

TSUNAMI – The death toll from the tsunami that hit the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra on Saturday has exceeded 400. Also, 1500 people were injured and more than 150 are reported missing, according to a local official quoted by news agencies. The tsunami hit the southern coast of Sumatra and the western side of Java, triggered by an undersea landslide caused by the eruption of Krakatau volcano, some 50 km off the coast.

ATTACK – At least three people, including a Libyan diplomat, died in a terrorist attack on the headquarters of Libyas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. The Interior Minister Fathi Agha has admitted that the chaos that the country is facing in terms of security continues to turn it into a fertile ground for the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. Libya has been plunging into havoc since the fall of Muammal Gaddafis regime back in 2011. The country is divided into several rival entities, with a National Union Government in Tripoli, supported by the international community, and a parallel government formed in the east, supported by the National Libyan Army, self-proclaimed by Marshall Khalifa Haftar.

25 December 2018
August 22, 2018 UPDATE

MEETING – The Romanian coalition Government has called for an urgent meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense to endorse the latest budget adjustment. According to a communiqué issued by the Government, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the request was submitted to president Klaus Iohannis. The announcement was made after on Tuesday the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, accused the head of state of trying to block the adjustment, by not summoning the Defense Council. Also on Tuesday, the presidency informed that the secretariat of the Supreme Council of National Defense was trying to get the individual approval of the members of the Council regarding the proposed budgets for the institutions dealing with national security. According to the Government, the adjustment is needed in order to provide the necessary money for salaries, social welfare, the payment of Romania’s contribution to the EU budget, local budgets and measures to combat the African swine fever.

MOLDOVA — Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has reiterated the special importance Romania pays to the strategic partnership with the Republic of Moldova as part of Wednesday’s meeting she had in Bucharest with representatives of the Association of Investors in Romania. According to a Government release, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of intensifying bilateral talks and cooperation on topics of mutual interest, such as investment, Moldova’s EU accession and the interconnection of the Romania and Moldova’s energy grids. Prime Minister Dancila earlier this year attended the launch of the Association of Investors in the Republic of Moldova.

HEARING — Bucharest prefect Speranta Cliseru on Wednesday appeared before the Prosecutor General’s Office, claiming her signed order sanctioning the intervention of the riot police during the August 10 protests fully complies with the legislation in force. On Tuesday, the Romanian Interior Minister Carmen Dan was heard by the Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest in relation to the violent events that occurred during the anti-Government protest of August 10. On Sunday, the Interior Minister apologized to all those who suffered as a result of gendarmes intervention. Hundreds of complaints have been filed against the riot police. Army prosecutors have initiated criminal proceedings for abusive behavior, abuse of office and professional misconduct.

SWINE FEVER — The number of confirmed swine fever hotbeds in Romania has reached 725, identified in over 150 towns and villages in 10 counties in the northwest and southeast, the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority announced on Wednesday. So far eight hotbeds have been confirmed in trade units in Tulcea and Braila. The total number of pigs slaughtered has exceeded 117 thousand both in trade units and local households. Some 5,000 wild boars in the areas where outbreaks of African swine fever have been confirmed are to be hunted down. The decision was made after the sanitary-veterinary authorities confirmed new outbreaks, as the virus was furthered spread by wild boars. Specialists say there is no danger for food safety.

PRINCE CHARLES – Prince Charles of Great Britain financially supports the restoration of a medieval church in a village in Hunedoara, western Romania. The church is a historical monument built in the 14th century and requires repair works, estimated to cost approximately 6,500 Euro. Works are due to start in September, under the program called ‘Ambulance for Monuments’, to which Prince Charles provides constant support. Since 2016, 15 monuments in the west and centre of Romania have been refurbished under this program. We recall that Prince Charles has several properties in Romania, which he visits on a regular basis.

AIRCRAFT — Two Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets based in Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in southeastern Romania on Wednesday intercepted two Russian Su-30 Flanker fighter jets close to NATO’s air space over the Black Sea, the Royal Air Force reports. The two British aircraft were part of the NATO’s air surveillance mission as Great Britain takes part in ensuring the security of Romania and its other NATO allies. Last week six Russian bombers were intercepted over the Black Sea by RAF aircraft carrying out air policing missions in Romania. Four Typhoon bombers are deployed as part of this mission at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, currently hosting hundreds of US military.

EXTRADITION — The Court of Appeal in Belgrade has ruled against the request to extradite former Romanian MEP Sebastian Ghita. The ruling is final. According to Tanjug news agency, the Court upheld the decision of the High Court in Belgrade, which rejected the request on grounds that Ghita had been given political asylum in Serbia in June 2018, claiming persecution in his country of origin due to his political convictions. According to the Court of Appeal, the court of first instance was justified in claiming that Ghita’s situation could deteriorate if the Romanian were extradited to Romania. Sebastian Ghita fled the country in December 2016, being wanted in several criminal investigations. An international arrest warrant was issued in his name and he was arrested in April 2017 in Belgrade, after Ghita used a fake Slovenian passport. Ghita subsequently made bail.

VISIT — Culture Minister George Ivascu on Wednesday is paying an official four-day visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, to attend the 4th International Cultural Summit. The Romanian official will meet his Scottish counterpart Fiona Hyslop, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, Tourism and Foreign Affairs, and will meet with artists and men of culture living in Scotland. This year the summit brings together artists and ministers of culture seeking answers to the challenges of globalized society.

SIMONA HALEP – According to Forbes Magazine, with 7.7 million dollars, the Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, no. 1 in the WTA standings, ranks 8th among the players with the highest incomes this year. She has won the Grand Slam in France, at the Roland Garros and also another two WTA tournaments. Besides the prizes awarded at these competitions, Simona has received an important amount of money from sponsorships. The classification is topped by the US tennis player Serena Williams, with 18.1 million dollars.

(Translated by M. Ignatescu and V. Palcu)

22 August 2018
August 22, 2018

NATIONAL DEFENSE COUNCIL – The Romanian coalition Government has called
for an urgent meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense to endorse the
latest budget adjustment. According to a communiqué issued by the Government,
formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats, the request was submitted to president Klaus Iohannis. The
announcement was made after on Tuesday the leader of the Social Democratic
Party, Liviu Dragnea, accused the head of state of trying to block the
adjustment by not summoning the Defense Council. Also on Tuesday, the
presidency informed that the secretariat of the Supreme Council of National
Defense was trying to get the individual approval of the members of the Council
regarding the proposed budgets for the institutions dealing with national
security. According to the Government, the adjustment is needed in order to
provide the necessary money for salaries, social welfare, the payment of
Romania’s contribution to the EU budget, local budgets and measures to combat
the African swine fever.

COOPERATION – Romania and Slovakia support the EU’s traditional
policies within the future multi-annual financial framework, said in Bratislava on Tuesday
the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu at the annual meeting of the
Slovak diplomacy. He stated that Slovakia will support Romania during its
presidency of the Council of the EU, in the first half of 2019. Minister
Melescanu also stressed the importance of rendering the activity of European
institutions and decision-makers more effective, in order to first meet the
expectations and priorities of the EU citizens. Teodor Melescanu has stated
that his visit coincided with the celebration of 50 years since the reprisal of
the Prague Spring and has recalled that Romania was the only country in the
communist block that did not take part in the invasion of Czechoslovakia
decided by the Soviet Union.

AFGHANISTAN – 23 Romanian gendarmes have left on a 6-month mission in
Afghanistan, to train, advise and assist the Afghan institutions and security
forces. The head of the contingent, colonel Dragos Buzoianu, with a vast
expertise in international missions, was also appointed adviser to the Chief of
Staff of the Afghan National Police. So far, the Romanian Gendarmerie has
deployed 8 contingents in Afghanistan. Also, Romanian gendarmes are
participating in 9 missions under the aegis of the EU, the UN and the OSCE.

PRINCE CHARLES – Prince Charles of Great Britain supports financially the
restoration of a medieval church in a village in Hunedoara, western Romania.
The church is a historical monument built in the 14th century and
requires repair works, estimated to cost approximately 6,500 Euro. Works are
due to start in September, under the program called ‘Ambulance for Monuments’,
which Prince Charles supports constantly. Since 2016, 15 monuments in the west
and centre of Romania have been refurbished under this program. We recall that
Prince Charles has several properties in Romania, which he visits on a regular
basis.

PROETNICA FEST – The town of Sighisoara, in
central Romania, is hosting the 16th Intercultural Festival
ProEtnica. The event organized as part of the European Year of Cultural
Heritage is attended by some 600 representatives of national minorities. Until
Sunday, some 50 groups and ensembles representative for the 20 national
minorities living in Romania will be performing on the festival’s stages, in
the only inhabited medieval fortress in south-eastern Europe. The festival also
includes a science section, film screenings and art exhibitions, as well as stands
of products made by craftspeople.

SWINE FEVER – Some 5000 wild boars in the areas where outbreaks of
African swine fever have been confirmed are to be hunted down. The decision was
made after the sanitary-veterinary authorities confirmed new outbreaks, as the
virus was further spread by wild boars. Currently there are more than 600
outbreaks in more than 100 towns and villages in 9 counties across Romania.
Thousands of pigs have been culled, both in private households and farms.
Specialists say there is no danger for food safety.

SIMONA HALEP – According to Forbes Magazine, with 7.7 million dollars,
the Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, no. 1 in the WTA standings, ranks 8th
among the players with the highest incomes this year. She has won the Grand
Slam in France, at the Roland Garros and also another two WTA tournaments.
Besides the prizes awarded at these competitions, Simona has received an
important amount of money from sponsorships. The classification is topped by
the US tennis player Serena Williams, with 18.1 million dollars.

22 August 2018
June 25, 2018

NO-CONFIDENCE – Thousands of Romanians went to the streets on Sunday evening, calling for the resignation of the Government led by Viorica Dancila. They are worried that the current executive, formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, might adopt, under an emergency decree, the changes brought to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, which have been adopted recently. These changes are the object of the no-confidence motion filed by the National Liberal Party, which is being read in parliament today and will be voted on Wednesday. The right wing opposition blames the Government for having destroyed the economy and the justice system. Also today, the Romanian MPs are to debate a simple motion filed by the Save Romania Union, which calls for the resignation of the Transport Minister Lucian Sova. He is accused of incompetence and of having blocked funding for the building of motorways in Romania.

NATIONAL DEFENSE – The meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense will be held on Wednesday, headed by the President Klaus Iohannis. The meetings agenda includes Romanias objectives for the NATO summit in Brussels next week and the Romanian Armed Forces that can be deployed for missions and operations abroad in 2019. A fresh NATO training mission in Iraq will be officially announced at the summit of the Alliance scheduled for July. Also, NATO wants to set up ground forces command units. Romania has already announced its intention to host such a command unit. Bucharests stand on the relation between the EU and NATO, a topic that will be approached at the summit, must also be established at the meeting of Romanias Supreme Council of National Defense.

FAC – The Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu is today attending the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. The EU foreign ministries will have a joint working session with the defense ministries, to assess the progress in security and defence. Also, the ministers will discuss the consolidation of the relationship between NATO and the EU, in the presence of the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Also today, Romania and Bulgaria will give briefings on the stage and prospects of EU-supported regional cooperation initiatives in the Black Sea Area.

CVM – The European Commission is currently conducting a fresh evaluation under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism. For three days, a Commission delegation will analyze the impact of the changes brought to the justice laws and the criminal codes on the Romanian justice system. The Justice Minister Tudorel Toader has stated that a document was drawn up, highlighting the progress made by Romania.

MOLDOVA – The Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Moldova (Romanias neighbor with a predominantly Romanian-speaking population) is today examining the appeal to the invalidation of the early elections for the office of mayor of Chisinau, issued by two lower courts. On June 3rd, the second round of mayoral elections was won by the representative of the pro-European opposition Andrei Nastase, who defeated the pro-Russia socialist Ion Ceban. The invalidation of the result of the election triggered large-scale protests across the country and reactions from the EU and the US, which have called for a transparent appeal procedure. In Bucharest, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has warned that political tension might affect the republics stability, and the right-wing opposition has voiced support for Nastase. If Nastases win is not validated, Chisinau will have an interim mayor until the local elections due next year.

MIGRATION – The European mini-summit on migration ended on Sunday in Brussels without any concrete measures being adopted. The leaders of the 16 participant countries agreed over the need to curb illegal migration and protect the European frontiers, but there was no consensus as to how that would be achieved. The German Chancellor Angela Markel stated that, unless solutions were found at the level of the EU, bilateral agreements will be proposed, while the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte proposed the creation of international protection centers in the transit countries and sanctions against the EU countries that do not accept refuges. The Visegrad Group (made up of Hungary, Poland, the Check Republic and Slovakia) boycotted the meeting. New talks will be held at the European Council this week.

BACCALAUREATE – The high-school graduation examinations – the Baccalaureate – have started in Romania today. Some 137,000 students are participating, in 440 examination centers across the country. Today was the day for Romanian language and literature examination. On Tuesday, students belonging to the national ethnic minorities will sit for the examination in their mother tongues, Wednesday is the compulsory specialty examination, and on Thursday students will be tested into a matter of their own choice. For the first time, the oral examinations were taken during the school year. The first results are to be posted on July 4th, and the final ones on July 9th.

SCIENCE – Researchers from across the world are these days in Brasov, in central Romania, attending the International Nuclear Photonics Conference. Romania was chosen to host the second edition of this event, given that it is home to the most powerful laser in the world, which will be rendered operational next year. On Sunday, the participants discussed the applications of this technology, after they had visited the Magurele facility, near Bucharest. The first edition of the Conference was held in California in 2016.

TENNIS – The Romanian tennis player Simona Halep remains no.1 in the world, according to the WTA rankings published on Monday. To Halep, its the 34th week as world leader. Next on the podium there come Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Garbine Muguruza of Spain. The top 100 includes another five Romanian tennis players: Mihaela Buzarnescu (28), Irina Begu (33), Sorana Cirstea (47), Monica Niculescu (59) and Ana Bogdan (63).

(translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)

25 June 2018